Archeologists find new monument, theatre masks in ancient Myra

Archeologists have found a new historical monument and nearly 20 masks thought to have been worn by actors during excavations carried out in Myra, an ancient city on the southern coast of Turkey.

The excavations of the site are being carried out by Akdeniz University's Archeology Department under the supervision of Professor Nevzat Çevik, from the same department. Çevik told the Anatolia news agency that they found the monument and the masks during excavations they carried out beneath the city's stone-built theater.

“This is a monument built by a noble woman from Myra to honor her family. … According to data we obtained, we have found a monument which was built between 1 and 2 B.C. Çevik added that they think more historical items lie beneath the theater.

Known today as Demre, Myra is among the top historical sites in Turkey. It was a thriving port in the Byzantine period and was made the capital of the province of Lycia by Emperor Theodosius II in the fifth century.